Rail slotter



Sept. 10, 1940. w, M 4 2,214,141

RAIL SLOTTER Filed Oct 27, 1957 I 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 [to/126g A. W. MALL RAIIL SLOTTER -Spt. 10, 1940.

Filed Oct. 27, 1937 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 Alman k b k h. P

Sept. 10, 1940. w L 2,214,141

RAILSLOTTER Filed Oct. 27, 1937 7 Sheets-Sheet M 5 4 y 7/ (Mia/W 0 Sept. 10, 1940. w, MALL 2,214,141

RAIL SLOTTER 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed 001;. 27, 1937 Sept. 10, 1940. A; MALL 2,214,141

RAIL SLOTTER F iILed Oct. 27, 1937 ,7 Sheets-Sheet 5 y 7/ aim/925a Sept. 10, A w MALL RAIL SLOTTER Filed Oct. 27, 193'? 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 run-W Patented Sept. 10, 194@ hiiitdti RAKE. SLOTTER Arthur William Mail, Chicago, in.

Application Qctober 27, 1937, Serial No. 171,193

11 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in rail slotters and similar devices. My invention relates more particularly to a device of this type adapt-ed to be transported along a railroad track and capable of use to grind out the slots or joints between the meeting ends of rails.

When railroad rails are in service for some length of time, the ends are known to wear faster than the rest of the rail because of the hammering the ends receive the car wheels pass over the joints or spaces between the ends of adjoining rails. When the ends of rails become worn from this action, it has been found that their life may be lengthened by building up the worn rail ends by one of the welding processes and then grinding the added metal down to the original contour line of the rail. In building up the ends of the rails in this way, the joint or space between their ends is frequently filled with metal so that there is not enough space between the rail ends to allow for expansion. While certain machines are at present on the market which are capable of grinding out the joints betveen the rail ends, there are several features which I have provided and which will be hereinafter pointed out.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a rail slotter which will remove weld metal from rail joints in a quick, economical and satisfactory manner.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine of this type which is easily transportable and capable of being driven by means of a flexible shaft or other suitable drive from a remote source.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described that is easily and quickly attached to the rail to be operated upon, and is also capable of quick and easy removal when desired. In connection therewith I provide improved grip pads capable of attachment to worn or broken rails.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved device of the character described provided with improved means for quickly at-- taching or removing the device from the rail by means which can be operated with a foot, and additional means for supporting the device on the rail in an inoperative position.

A further object of the present invention is to provide improved adjusting means for moving the grinding wheel backward or forward to position its path of movement sufficiently exact to meet the most rigid requirements.

A further object of the present invention is to provide the lateral adjusting means, previously mentioned, with hand operated mechanism for securing a micromatic adjustment back and forth of the same.

A further object of the invention is to locate the adjusting means described in a convenient manner so the same are more accessible to the operator.

A further object of the present invention is to provide improved means for connecting the fiexile shaft and grinding wheel to the slotting machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means comprising yielding members for normally holding the grinding wheel and associated parts in a normal inoperative position.

Other objects and advantages will be more apparent from the following description wherein reference is had to the accompanying seven sheets of drawings upon which i Fig. l is a front perspective view of my improved slotter shown mounted upon a rail with the grinding Wheel engaging a slot to be ground between two abutting rail members j Fig. 2 is a perspective View looking from the left of. the machine, as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the same in a position to be mounted upon a rail, and is taken generally from the right of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a similar elevational View taken generally from the left of Fig. 1

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view showing the slotter mounted upon a rail to be ground;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view through the lateral adjusting mechanism, and is taken generally on the line il5 of Fig. i; v

Fig. '7 is a plan sectional view showing the base and associated parts, and is taken generally on the line ll-l of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional View of the base and associated parts, and is taken generally on the line 3-8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing the operating pedal, spring, and associated parts, and is taken on the line $9 of Fig.8;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 9 but looking in the opposite direction, and is taken generally on the line lfl-ltl of Fig.8;

Fig. ill is a perspective view of the grip slide;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary plan view of my improved rail slotter mounted on a rail with a modified base, showing an outrigger attached thereto;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the manner in which the gripping pads are attached to a worn rail;

Fig. 14 is a similar view showing the manner 55 in which they are attached to a worn outside rail on a curve, and

Fig. is a front elevational View of one of the grip pad members.

In the embodiment of my invention which I have chosen to illustrate, I have shown the base member ID adapted to be rigidly secured to the head I2 of the rail I4 of the abutting rails I4 and I6, fastened together by the usual rail joint I8. As is customary in laying rails, a slight space S has been left between the adjoining ends of the rails I4 and I6 and the rail slotter, as shown in the drawings, is secured to one of the rails for the purpose of grinding out the slot S.

The rail slotter generally may comprise the base member I6 provided with the two gripping pads 29, a sliding member 22 provided with the single gripping pad 24, a foot lever 26 for bringing the pads into engagement with the sides of the rail, a grinding Wheel G, a support 28 therefor, and adjusting means 39 for lateral adjustment of the grinding wheel G. The usual fi exible shaft drive 32 is provided for rotating the grinding wheel at the desired rate of speed.

The base ID, as previously mentioned, may be provided with a pair of gripping pads secured to a depending flange 34 extending beneath the base II). The base is further provided with a pair of bearings 36 adjacent the rear end thereof through which a pin member 38 is journalled. The foot pedal 26 is adapted to be mounted upon the pin member 38 and connected by means of a pair of stub shafts 40 to link members 42 that are mounted upon the reduced shoulders 44 of a link retainer member 45. The link retainer member 46 is formed with a centrally positioned drilled opening 48 through which a longitudinally disposed guide rod member 50 may be placed. The rod member 50 is rigidly mounted in suitable lugs 52 and 54 at opposite ends of the base member I0.

The grip slide member 22, previously mentioned, may be in the form of an elongated bowl formed with the spring chamber 56 and a pair of end bosses 58 and 60 provided with the aligned openings 62 and 64. The guide rod 59 is adapted to be disposed through the openings and the grip slide is thus slidably mounted upon the rod 50. I provide a comparatively light spring 66 disposed between the boss 54 and the boss 60, and a comparatively heavy compression spring 68 disposed on the guide rod 50 between the boss 54 and the link retainer 46. It will be noted that the base III is formed with the central elongated opening I0 within which the grip slide is disposed.

In order to fasten the rail slotter upon a rail, it is only necessary to step forward upon the foot pedal 26, thus compressing the spring 68 to the point Where the link 42 and the studs 40 and the shaft 38 will be aligned, at which point the machine will be rigidly held upon a rail by reason of the pressure of the heavy spring 68 against the aligned centers of the arms 42 and the foot pedal 26. In order to release the mechanism from a rail, it is only necessary to step downwardly on the rear or right-hand side of the foot pedal 26, thereby breaking the straight line linkage and causing the grip slide which carries the gripping pad 24 to be moved away from the rail. Both the gripping pads 24 and 29 are adjustably mounted upon the member 22 and the base I0 respectively. The pad 24 may carry the threaded stud portion I2 formed with a squared end '14 for moving the same back and forth in the screw-threaded opening I6 in the downwardly depending lug I8 of the g p Slide.

A look nut 80 may hold the same in any adjusted position. The grip pads 29 may be similarly mounted in the downwardly depending lugs 20a formed on the base II).

For supporting the grinding wheel and adjusting mechanism for the same, I provide a vertical standard 82 provided with a pair of downwardly depending arms 84 and 86 formed with the lower bosses 88 and 99. I provide a supporting rod 92 positioned through suitable drilled openings in the bosses 88 and 99 and extending through a pair of supporting bearings 93 and 94 at the end of the base II]. A screw member 92a may rigidly hold the shaft 92 against movement in the bearings 93 and 94. The member 82 may be formed at its upper end with a handle portion 96 connecting the arms 34 and 86. I provide a pair of bearings 9'! and 98 in the arms 86 and 84 to support an adjusting rod 99. The rod 99 may carry the grinding wheel housing and support I92 at its outer extended end.

One of the important features of my invention resides in the micrometer adjustment which I can obtain for the lateral position of the grinding wheel G. Accordingly, when the rod 99 and the housing I92 which supports the grinding wheel are moved back and forth, the grinding wheel is also moved.

cans for providing this adjustment (see Fig. 6), may include the adjusting bushing I64 which is screw-threadedly mounted in a suitable tapped opening I66 in the arm 36. The bushing I94 is formed with a handle portion I96 including the spherical studs H6. A collar H2 is keyed to the forward end of rod 99 and a collar H4 is keyed to the rod 99 at the extended end of the bushing I94. With this construction, when it is desired to move the grinding wheel and housing from the extreme left position shown in Fig. 5 to the right, the same is accomplished by rotating the bushing I 04 and moving it forward in the tapped opening I96, thereby carrying the supporting rod 99 forward. In order, however, to fixedly set the grinding wheel in a desired position, I provide the friction pin H6 slidably mounted in a drilled opening H6 parallel to the tapped opening I96. A pin H6 is provided with an axial drilled opening I29, within which a spring pressed ball I22 is mounted. The handle portion I98 of the bushing I94 is provided upon a vertical face with a plurality of spaced notches I24 positioned in a circle which coincides with the ball I22. Thus, as the handle I98 is rotated it may be set in any one of a desired number of positions and locked by the ball I 22.

The housing I62 previously mentioned, may be provided with a bracket portion I30 which is fixed to the end of rod 99 and secured thereto by bolt member I32. The housing may generally cover the upper half of the grinding wheel and receive the rigid sleeve portion I34 of the flexible drive shaft 32 in the split sleeve portion I36. The bolt members I38 may securely fasten the housing on the sleeve I34. The flexible drive shaft may be of the usual type which includes the driven nut portion I49 at the end of a solid shaft (not shown) to which the grinding wheel is attached, and which is driven by the tip portion I 42 of the flexible drive shaft.

I have found by my experience in operating devices of this type that a certain amount of flexibility is required in the inoperative position of the mechanism. Accordingly, and to preferably hold the standard. B2 in an upright position, I provide an upright post I50 rigidly positioned in a socket l52 in the base ill. I provide a bolt member l' l for securely locking the same in its socket. The arm 55% may extend upwardly as shown, and be provided with a right-angle extension I55 provided at its outer end with an ear i525 to receive one end of a compression spring ltd. The other end of the compression spring may be connected through a suitable ear Hi2 near the upper end of the standard 82, and thus with the spring under tension, the standard is ordinarily held in an upright position.

Suitable means for holding the housing 262 and the flexible shaft 32 in an upright position are also provided, and include the compression spring lii l connected to a suitable ear E66 on the side of the housing and at the upper end of the spring to a chain I68 fastened through a slot ill?- in the end of an arm 572 fastened to the upper end of the post 55b. With the chain fastening, it is apparent that the tension upon this spring may be easily secured at will to suit the wishes of the operator. The manual means for moving the grinding wheel downwardly in a grinding operation about the movable pivot and the fixed pivot 82, may comprise a rigid 'handle member i 55 connected to the housing it? and extending upwardly therefrom. The handle may have the usual vertical cross bar HG convenience in handling.

When it is desired to use my improved rail slotter herein described, it is a simple matter to fasten the same upon a rail by pressure upon the foot pedal it. After this has been done, the use of the micrometer adjustment which I have shown and described, it is obvious that the grinding wheel G may be located at the exact vertical plane at which the same is to grind. iter this has been done, downward movement of the handle HS will swing the grinding wheel down and permit limited back and forth movement, due to the flexibility of the locations of the pivot 99 and the pivot 92 about which the same may be rotated.

In Fig. 12 I have shown a modified form of base member liia, provided with an extension Hlb at the rear thereof. The extension la'ib is formed with a drilled opening its aligned with the rails M and it and adapted to support an outrigger member 582 fixedly secured in the opening by a bolt member ltd. The outrigger member may be in a form of a rod which extends parallel to the rail when the slotting device is positioned on the rail, and is formed with a right-angle bend lSfi which has a yoke member I88 secured to the end thereof. The yoke member I33 is formed with a jaw to closely fit over the head of the rail, and thus by contact upon three sides it is adapted to support the slotting device on the rails in an upright position when the same is not fastened by the gripping pads 2b and 2d. The fact that the device will thus rest upright on a rail even when not in engagement, assists materially in the speed with which an operator can move the device from one rail joint to the next. 1

In Figs. 13 and 14 I have illustrated a cross section of a pair of sections Ida and l ib of rails which have been in use for a considerable length of time on a curve in the tracksv Actual wear upon these rails produces the overhanging lip Eric shown Fig. 13 on the inner rail, and the sloping surface Edd showing the wearing away of the outside of the rail upon the outer rail at a curve. In order to securely fasten the slotting device at joints where the rails are in the condition shown, I have provided the modified form of grip pad illustrated herein. This form of grip pad is provided with an axial drilled opening Nb and an enlarged bore N52 to receive a hardened steel point member Hi l. it will be noted that the point member is provided with pointed ends so that the same may be reversed when one of the points becomes worn. The face of the grip pad is provided with a plurality of ridges ltli and the lower portion of the same is out off at a point slightly below the threaded to avoid interference with the fish plates lit commonly found at rail joints.

It will be observed by examining Fig. 13 that the overhanging lip His is engaged by one of the ridges ldt and is there efiectively held so that the slotting device is firmly mounted on the rail in spite of this deformation of the same. In Fig. 14 it will be observed that the hardened steel point li l is the sole means by which the one side Md of the rail is gripped, but due to the extreme hardness of the same, the engagement is sufficient for the purpose desired.

It will thus be apparent that with my improved grip pads, unusual conditions in the configuration of the rail are compensated for and the slo-tter can be mounted upon any and all types of rail.

While I have illustrated and described a specific embodiment of my invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made in the exact details shown, and I do not wish to be limited in any particular; rather what I desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent or" the United States is:

1. A rail slotting device including a base member, a pair of gripping members mounted thereon and adapted to engage upon opposite sides of a rail, at least one of said gripping members having a serrated face and a reversible engaging point.

2. A rail slotting device including a base member, a pair of gripping members mounted thereon and adapted to engage upon opposite sides of a rail, at least one of said gripping members having a serrated face and a reversible engaging point, said serrated face comprising concentric radial ridges surrounding said engaging point.

3. A rail slotting device comprising a support, means for releasably attaching said support to a rail in a position projecting normally upwardly therefrom, a bracket, a shaft on which said bracket is rigidly mounted, said shaft being mounted in said support for combined pivotal and axial sliding movement, on an axis parallel to the rail and adjusting means including a bushing rotatably and non-slidably mounted on said shaft and threaded in said support for adjusting said bracket axially of said combined pivotal and slidable connection, whereby to adjust the grinding wheel longitudinally of the rail.

4. A rail slotting device comprising a support, means for releasably attaching said support to a rail in a position projecting normally upwardly therefrom, a bracket, a shaft on which said bracket is rigidly mounted, said shaft being mounted in said support for combined pivotal and axial sliding movement, on an axis parallel to the rail and adjusting means including a bushing rotatably and non-slidably mounted on said shaft and threaded in said support, and a pin longitudinally movable in said support adjacent said bushing and rigidly associated with said shaft for movement in unison therewith, said pin cooperating with said b-ushing for holding the same in adjusted positions.

5. A rail slotting device comprising a support, 7

means for releasably attaching said support to a rail in a position projecting normally upwardly therefrom, a bracket, a shaft on which said bracket is rigidly mounted, said shaft being mounted in said support for combined pivotal and axial sliding movement, on an axis parallel to the rail and adjusting means including a bushing rotatably and non-slidably mounted on said shaft and threaded in said support, a handwheel on said bushing, and a pin longitudinally movable in said support adjacent said bushing and rigidly associated with said shaft for movement in unison therewith, said pin cooperating with said handwheel for holding the same in adjusted positions.

6. A rail slotting device comprising -a support, means for releasably attaching said support to a rail in a position projecting normally upwardly therefrom, a bracket, a shaft on which said bracket is rigidly mounted, said shaft, being mounted in said upright for combined pivotal and axial sliding movement, on an axis parallel to the rail and adjusting means including a bushing rotatably and non-slidably mounted on said shaft and threaded in said support, and a pin longitudinally movable in said support adjacent said bushing and rigidly associated with said shaft for movement in unison therewith, said pin having a longitudinal bore at one end and being provided in said base with a spring pressed ball cooperating with said bushing for holding the same in adjusted positions.

7. A rail slotting device comprising a base, a rail slotting tool carried thereby, and means for clamping said base on a rail, said means com.- prising a horizontal rod fixedly mounted on the base, a grip slide slidably mounted on said rod, opposed rail gripping elements carried by said slide and the base respectively, a sleeve slidable on said rod, a toggle pivoted at one end to said sleeve and at its other end to the base, a compression spring interposed between said sleeve and said slide and adapted to transmit thrust from the toggle to the slide, said toggle adapted, when straightened out, to advance the slide to a position wherein the rail is securely and also yieldably clamped between said gripping elements.

8. A rail slotting device comprising a base, a rail slotting tool carried thereby, and means for clamping said base on a rail, said means comprising a horizontal rod fixedly mounted on the base, a grip slide slidably mounted on said rod, opposed rail gripping elements carried by said slide and the base respectively, a sleeve slidable on said rod, a toggle pivoted at one end to said sleeve and at its other end to the base, a compression spring interposed between said sleeve and said slid-e and adapted to transmit thrust from the toggle to the slide, a compression spring interposed between said slide and the base and arranged to oppose the action of said thrust transmitting compression spring so as to return the slide to a non-clamping position when the toggle is unlocked, and a foot pedal associated with said toggle for depressing the same to an over-center locked position wherein the rail is securely and also yieldably clamped between said gripping elements, said pedal having a heel portion adapted when pressure is applied thereto, to unlock the toggle.

9. In a rail working device, means for clamping said device upon a rail, including a gripping element adapted to engage a side region of the rail, said element having a serrated rail engaging face comprising concentric arcuate ridges- 10. In a rail working device, means for clamping said device upon a rail, including a gripping element adapted to engage a side {region of the rail, said element having a serrated rail engaging face comprising arcuate ridges positioned so as to establish a chordal relation with a feather edge on a rail engaged by said face.

11. A rail slotting device comprising a base to be clamped upon a rail, a grip slide slidably mounted on said base, said slide and base being adapted to clamp the rail between them, rail gripping members carried by the base and the slide for engagement with the rail, a lever having a connection with the base and said slide adapted when depressed to move the slide in rail engaging direction, and means associated with the base and said slide whereby the base is yieldably clamped to the rail.

ARTHUR WILLIAM MALL. 

